The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Apollo to start stem cell research centre

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Sunday, Apr 18, 2010
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Apollo to start stem cell research centre

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: A hub for research and clinical trials of stem cells would start functioning at the Apollo Hospital here in a couple of months.

It would be a full-fledged laboratory which will supply stem cells on demand to Apollo group hospitals all over the country, Ranjit Roy Chaudhury, chairman, Apollo Hospitals Educational and Research Foundation, told reporters on Saturday.

He said the lab would use stem cells from bone marrow and cord blood of patients in research and therapy for diseases like cardiovascular, cerebral palsy and stroke initially. The objective was to provide scientific basis to therapy in the absence of published studies in clinical cell research. For instance, he said, the centre would provide data about how long improvement would last if stem cells were implanted to treat a failing liver. There were no published clinical trials for this, added.

The centre would collaborate with StemCyte, USA, for use of umbilical cord blood cells from the latter's Ahmedabad facility.

Dr. Roy said patients were going to China and Germany and spending in the range of Rs eight to eighty lakh on stem cell therapy for stroke, neurodegenerative disorders and Parkinson's diseases.

Yet, the treatment was only marginal. A more effective treatment at lesser cost would be available in the country .

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